Petunia plant named ‘Dopetpotucora’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Dopetpotucora’, characterized by its upright and mounding to hanging plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large light red-colored flowers with dark red-colored venation and centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPETPOTUCORA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Dopetpotucora’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely branching and early-floweringPetunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2016 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selectionof Petunia X hybrida identified as code number TT-0451, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia Xhybrida identified as code number TT14-002281-006, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dopetpotucora’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Dopetpotucora’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding to hanging plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large light red-colored flowers with dark red-colored        venation and centers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color asplants of the new Petunia have light red-colored flowers with darkred-colored venation and centers whereas plants of the female parentselection have purple-colored flowers. In addition, pollen of plants ofthe new Petunia is creamy white it color whereas pollen of plants of thefemale parent selection is purple in color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color asplants of the new Petunia have light red-colored flowers with darkred-colored venation and centers whereas plants of the male parentselection have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida‘Duepotdared’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,704. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Duepotdared’ differprimarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller and darker        green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Duepotdared’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of        ‘Duepotdared’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Duepotdared’ differ in flower        color as plants of the new Petunia have light red-colored        flowers with dark red-colored venation and centers whereas        plants of ‘Duepotdared’ have dark red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Dopetpotucora’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring in 13-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Petunia production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were twelve weeks old when thephotograph and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘Dopetpotucora’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT-0451, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT14-002281-006, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 155B in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounding to hanging            plant habit; freely branching habit with about nine to            eleven primary lateral branches each with about eight.            secondary branches developing after pinching; moderately            vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 20            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 24.5            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 22.5 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 15 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 144A; at the internodes,            close to 144A to 144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 5 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Spatulate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            leathery; semi-glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 141B; venation,            close to 142A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 144A; venation, close to 144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2.25 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong; firm. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper            surface: Close to 144C. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 40 open flowers and flower buds per plant at one time;            flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the spring and summer in Germany; early flowering habit,            plants typically beginning flowering about nine weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 6.2 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 183D.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.7 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from            throat): About 2.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.4 cm. Petal            shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat            texture and luster: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Tube            texture and luster: Rippled, pubescent; semi-glossy. Color:            Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Ground color, close            to 51A; venation and towards the centers, close to 46B.            Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 50C. Petal            lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Ground color, close to            51A; venation and towards the centers, close to 45B and 53B;            color does not change with development Petal lobe, fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 47D; venation, close to            177D; color becoming closer to 51C with development. Flower            throat: Close to 178A; venation, close to 53B. Flower tube:            Close to 178B; venation, close to 53B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a            tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter:            About 3.6 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Decurrent.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, when opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 143A. Color, when            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 143B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 1.5 cm. Filament color: Close to            155D. Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther shape: Ovate.            Anther color: Close to 158A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 158B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 2.3 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm.            Style color: Close to 142C. Stigma diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary            color: Close to 142A. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant:            About ten during the flowering season. Length: About 5 mm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 161C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 80. Length:            About 0.2 mm. Diameter: About 0.2 mm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 200A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain, temperatures    ranging from about 3° C. to about 28° C. and to be suitable for USDA    Hardiness Zone 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Petunia plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Dopetpotucora’as illustrated and described.